Elizondo makes Mi Tierra's mural

Precinct 2 Commissioner Paul Elizondo thanks family and friends on Dec. 20, 2012, at a ceremony to unveil his image as part of a mural of historic Latino figures at Mi Tierra Restaurant. Begun 22 years ago, the mural features dozens of local, national and foreign leaders. Elizondo,a former teacher and orchestra leader, has been a Bexar County commissioner since 1983 and also served in the Texas House.

Veteran Precinct 2 Commissioner Paul Elizondo took his place in history Thursday with the unveiling of his image as part of the Mi Tierra Restaurant mural depicting prominent Latinos.

Begun 22 years ago, the mural features more than 100 Latino leaders, through the ages and from various walks of life, including politics, government and the arts.

“It means a lot to me” to be part of it, Elizondo said.

Painted by Robert Ytuarte, the artwork depicts Elizondo, an image of the 10-story county office tower named in his honor, the U.S. Marine Corps emblem to acknowledge Elizondo's military service, and a saxophone representing his musical career.

A former teacher and orchestra leader, Elizondo has been a Bexar County commissioner since 1983 and also served in the Texas House. He represents parts of West and Northwest Bexar County.

“It's incredible the record he's achieved over the years with the Texas Legislature and Bexar County Commissioners Court — all the great projects he's worked on,” Wolff said.

Van de Putte, whose image is part of the sprawling mural, added: “I don't think there's a thing in this community that you haven't touched ... but first and foremost, you've never forgotten where you've come from, and that's the West Side of San Antonio.”

Representing the Cortez family that owns Mi Tierra and other restaurants, Jorge Cortez said Elizondo belonged in the “American Dream” mural because “he is from the neighborhood, he is from El Mercado, he's dedicated his life to serve San Antonio.”

Elizondo reflected on his strong ties to the same Mercado area where Mi Tierra has prospered, noting that nearby his father operated a barbershop and his grandfather had a restaurant decades ago.

“To me, this is a homecoming. This is where I come from,” he said.

“The one thing that I need to mention is 18 of the proudest years of my life were when I was teaching school. That's part of my career that sometimes we tend to forget. It was a very wholesome time, even though I had to work a second job in order to be able to afford it,” he said.